ABJ_December_2020.indb 1281 11/5/2020 1:10:23 PM ABJ_December_2020.indb 1282 11/5/2020 1:10:26 PM Editor - Eugene Makovec Advertising Manager -Marta Menn Publishing Department - Dianne Behnke & Susan Nichols [email protected] www.americanbeejournal.com [email protected] CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS Volume 160 No. 12 December 2020 From the Editor . 1287 ARTICLES Letters to the Editor . 1289 • Time Warp: Cryopreservation of Honey Bee Germplasm Part 1: The drone contribution News and Events . 1293 M.E.A. McNeil . 1307 Classified Advertising . 1389 • Running Interference: RNAi and the promise of healthy bees Bill Hesbach . 1315 Year-end Index . 1393 • A Zooming Success in Georgia Advertising Index . 1398 Jonathan Hayes and Linda Tillman . 1333 COLUMNS • Honey Skep Cakes: An Eastern European holiday tradition The Classroom M.E.A. McNeil . 1340 Jamie Ellis . 1297 • Mite Control While Honey is on the Hive, Part 2 Beekeeping Basics: Randy Oliver . 1349 Using Wax to Preserve Woodenware Meghan Milbrath . 1303 • Ellen Tupper, the Iowa Bee Queen Beekeeping, Past and Present: Peter L. Borst . 1363 Summer Swarms: A prelude to usurpation Wyatt A. Mangum . 1321 • Does Locally Sourced Honey Alleviate Seasonal Allergies? The research is inconclusive Science Insider: Feeding Pollen Might Not Andrew Bauer . 1369 Be as Useful as You Think Alison McAfee . .1327 • Monitoring Honey Bee Colony Activities with a The Curious Beekeeper: Food from Bugs: Temperature Sensor Grid, Part 3 Insects that feed humans Frank Linton, Anna Stumme, Brett Padula, Rusty Burlew . 1345. Gail Ifshin, Gregory Behrmann . 1373 Notes from the Lab: • Memphis Medical Startup Heals with Honey: How Honey Bees Recognize Their Sisters Product bioengineered for chronic or acute wound care Scott McArt . 1359 Justin Stokes . 1379 The American Bee Journal ISSN 0002-7626 • Oregon Master Beekeeper Anna Ashby Brings Honey to THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL (ISSN 002-7626) is Resort’s Table published monthly at American Bee Journal, 51 S. 2nd Street, Hamilton, IL 62341. Periodicals Postage Dewey M. Caron . 1383 Paid at Hamilton, IL and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to American Bee Journal, 51 S. 2nd Street, Hamilton, IL 62341. In the United States, $29.00 a year; two years, $55.00 and three years, ON THE COVER $78.00. Canada $47.00 a year; two years $90.00. Foreign $54.00 a year; two years $99.00. Subscriptions stop at Shannon Wallace of Claremore, Oklahoma, shared this great photo and expiration date printed on label. Available in microfilm caption with us: form at moderate prices by writing to National Archive Publishing Co., 300 N. Zeeb Road, P.O. Box 998, Ann “With all the crazy things going on with the COVID virus and numerous Arbor, Michigan 48106. ©Copyright Dadant & Sons, Inc., changes to every part of life, my wife Jody and I decided to start 2019. All rights reserved, printed in USA. The Publishers cannot guarantee advertisements in this magazine, but homeschooling our two girls. They traveled with us up to North Dakota we ask that any advertising complaints be made known and helped work bees. On the first day of homeschooling we took a to us, so we can further check the company’s reliability. Opinions expressed in articles are not necessarily those picture of our girls, Alesha (left, 9th grade) and Faith (11th grade), while of the publisher. American Bee Journal, 51 S. 2nd St., Hamilton, IL 62341. (888) 922-1293. Fax (217) 847-3660. working the bees. We did some school work and had a ton of fun!” December 2020 1283 ABJ_December_2020.indb 1283 11/5/2020 1:10:26 PM 1284 American Bee Journal ABJ_December_2020.indb 1284 11/5/2020 1:10:30 PM ABJ_December_2020.indb 1285 11/5/2020 1:10:33 PM ABJ_December_2020.indb 1286 11/5/2020 1:10:36 PM From the Editor Eugene Makovec [email protected] The Grinchy Beekeeper My very favorite Christmas pro- oils that, according to the workshop light-bulb heaters, essential oils again gram from childhood was the Dr. she’d attended, were critical to keep- (this time in feed), bananas (yes, ba- Seuss classic “How the Grinch Stole ing them healthy. I managed to talk nanas), and shelters of all kinds. Christmas.” One of our three chan- her down, explaining that essential One Facebook post showed a row of nels would show it every December, oils — which Ana Heck of the Min- a half-dozen hives, surrounded by and it was so special that, in years nesota Bee Squad has described as a straw bales and covered entirely by when we had a working TV, Dad “fire hose” of scents overpowering a plastic tarp. Don’t get me wrong — would let us boys come in early from the bees’ natural pheromones — are insulation can be helpful in colder cli- milking cows to watch it. not in fact “essential” to a functioning mates, late-winter protein may be in Of course, while both the rhymes bee colony. In two decades, I told her, order for early spring splitting, and and the graphics were hilarious I have never put essential oils in my more commercial pollinators have throughout, the moral of the story hives, save for occasional, short-term taken to inside wintering to be ready came at the end, when Whoville’s can- use of thymol-based Apiguard for for the early almond bloom. tankerous northern neighbor discov- mite treatment. As for me, I make sure the lids are ered the true meaning of Christmas: Small hive beetles are certainly an on — though I have seen abandoned annoyance, but I’ve yet to see them hives that survived winter with- And the Grinch, with his take down an otherwise-healthy col- out benefit of covers. I also attach Grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow, ony. Yet there is a great trade in both mouse guards, and ensure they have stood puzzling and puzzling, how commercial and homemade SHB enough honey. One of 13 is light and could it be so? It came without rib- traps, while many of the beekeepers just got a candy board. A fourteenth bons! It came without tags! It came using them are inadvertently draw- went queenless at some point and without packages, boxes or bags! ing those beetles into their hives by dwindled to nothing last month, and And he puzzled three hours till his feeding pollen supplements when a couple of the late splits have small puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch they are not needed. Worse, I’ve seen populations and might be iffy. But thought of something he hadn’t be- more than one conference speaker with luck I expect to bring 10-12 col- fore. Maybe Christmas, he thought, instruct beekeepers in the placement onies through to spring — at which doesn’t come from a store. Maybe of hive beetle traps containing actual point I will again invoke the Grinch: Christmas, perhaps, means a little roach poison (!) inside their hives. bit more! This time of year, the worries are And the beek, with his beek-feet about getting colonies through win- all wet in the grass, stood puzzling In his “Three Things” article last ter. For context, we’re talking in my and puzzling, how did they all month, North Carolina bee inspector case about Eastern Missouri, where last? They lived without tar-paper, Lewis Cauble said he advises bee- winter is child’s play compared what or electrical coil. They lived with- keepers that if they properly manage some of you experience in the north- out quilt-boxes, or essence of oil. varroa, queen events, and feeding (if ern U.S. and Canada. Still, for my Dad Then the beek thought of something needed), lesser issues tend to take in Central Wisconsin, winter prep he hadn’t been taught. Maybe bees care of themselves. meant finally getting his supers off can survive without something Yet in so many of our interactions in about October, then stacking some I’ve bought. Maybe they’ve done with newer beekeepers there is en- straw bales at the end of the row to just that for more years than we’ve tirely too much time spent worrying temper the worst of the north winds. thought! about trivial matters. Much local club Granted, this was pre-varroa — but Q&A is spent reassuring folks about again, take care of the mites, and … I’m out of space, and secondary pests (no, wax moths did Beginners especially have a hard the aroma from the not kill your colony), while tamping time believing that their tender kitchen tells me it’s al- down old wives’ tales, magic elixirs charges can survive in a thin-walled most time to carve the and quick fixes. wooden box outside in the elements. roast beast. To all I got a call one April from a be- So they often go to great lengths — of our ABJ readers, ginner who was frantic because her and sometimes great expense — to here’s hoping your packages were on the way and she’d protect them. Quilt boxes, insulation holiday feasts are not found a source for the essential boards, black tarpaper or poly wrap, delicious. December 2020 1287 ABJ_December_2020.indb 1287 11/5/2020 1:10:37 PM 1288 American Bee Journal ABJ_December_2020.indb 1288 11/5/2020 1:10:41 PM Send your letters to the editor, Attn: Eugene Makovec, Dadant, 51 S. 2nd Street, Hamilton, IL 62341, Fax: 1-217-847-3660, or email: [email protected] Due to size and content, we may be unable to publish all information received. We may also edit your letter to avoid offensive language. Thank You! BEEKEEPING IN SCIENCE AND SKEPTICISM curve.